Gated Community Archives - Page 3 of 6 - Fort Myers Real Estate and Homes For Sale

Agents around the office often ask us how the Ellis Team sells so much real estate each month. The answer is, it’s marketing. It’s not about the dollars you spend each month, although we do spend more on advertising than just about anybody out there. It’s about spending smart, understanding how and where to find your customers, and converting. The Ellis Team smashes industry standard online advertising conversion rates.

The industry standard for online display ads back in 2016 was .35%. Many say it’s below that now. The Ellis Team converts 26 times that rate with an average in October at 9.13%. Some of our ads convert at 20%. The industry standard for a search ad is 1.91%. Again, the Ellis Team smashes industry standard online advertising conversion rates in every category.

So how do we do this? We’re not going to divulge that but suffice it to say we know a thing or two about online advertising, and it works. In fact, the Ellis Team was the first team in the country to put the MLS on our website. That first year we sold over 100 homes, and Realtors everywhere wondered what was going on.

NAR (National Association of Realtors) called us to Chicago to talk about this. They said the info was in the MLS books and couldn’t be made public to everyone on our website. After meeting with the president of NAR and NAR general counsel, they realized what we were doing was legal and met the bylaws of NAR. And this is how VOW (Virtual Office Websites) was born. SW Florida, you received it first. It later transitioned to IDX (Internet Data Exchange) and now Realtors across the country, along with Realtor.com, Zillow, and others are displaying agent’s listing data. I was always against Realtors letting 3^rd party companies display our data. I felt it should be reserved for agents displaying each other’s data, but somebody up at NAR decided otherwise.

Since those early days, we’ve been perfecting the art of online registrations and conversions. First, you must give people what they want. Your website must be fast, easy to use, and provide the most accurate and up to date data out there. Our website is real-time, so it’s fast, has all the listings including sold data, and it’s easy to use. Consumers like that they can see a photo gallery of all pictures instead of clicking one by one.

Buyers and sellers like that they can get neighborhood data in real-time and emailed to them weekly or monthly. This informs them of new listings, pending sales, and closed sales in a community. This is helpful when you’re keeping an eye on one or more communities.

Secondly, it helps to target the correct people. This is where the magic happens. It does no good to target the universe, because the universe will not all buy property, and certainly not in SW Florida. We target people who have an interest in SW Florida, even if they live out of the country. We find them from anywhere, and everywhere.

In the last month, www.LeeCountyOnline.com received 291 users from overseas. Our agents are working with several of them, and some are in a nice price point. Let’s not forget that we received 4,240 users last month from inside the US. And of those users, 82.5% are new users, so we’re advertising to and attracting thousands of new users each month.

It’s no wonder why Ellis Team at Keller Williams Realty agents are so busy and selling so much. We know how to find the buyers, no matter where they are.

If you’re looking to buy, you should talk with our experienced agents. If you’re looking to sell, speak with Sande or Brett Ellis 239-489-4042 Ext 4. Brett and Sande handle the listings. We know how to get Top Dollar for our sellers. Let us sit down with you and show you how we market. Nobody else does what we do, and the results speak for themselves. Find out what your home is worth at www.SWFLhomevalues.com

Good luck and Happy Selling!

November SW Florida Real Estate Update

Ellis Team Weekend Open Houses

Open House Sunday 1-3 PM

12760 Seaside Key CT, North Fort Myers Moody River Estates

Weekend Garage Sale

Saturday 8 AM-1 PM

2153 Treehaven Cir North

Buyers choose to buy all year long for various reasons. Leases expire, their existing home goes under contract, or a new job opportunity in SW Florida presents itself for an out of state buyer. People retire, relocate, and buy vacation homes 12 months out of the year. Florida is a net gain state, meaning it’s gaining more residents than it loses each year. So, we decided to answer the question, “Are certain months better to list your home for maximum results?”

As you can see from the graph, listings pick up each year around October. In 2016 it started in September, but only modestly. As a seller, you have a distinct advantage of being on the market in August and September over those that enter the market in October.

With limited choices for buyers, they are forced to scoop up homes that meet their criteria quickly for fear of losing out to other buyers. This fear disappears when more listings enter the market. In fact, when buyers lose their fear of missing out on a home, they become indifferent. When this occurs, we know we’ve hit a pricing plateau and buyers have turned off. The market must re-balance itself, and correct. The sellers that react and respond quickly get out. The sellers that do not, linger on the market wondering what it’s going to take to sell their home.

Thankfully we don’t have that market right now. Buyers are motivated because many sellers have made price corrections. Interest rates are rising, and it’s costing buyers to wait. They need a home, and they want one now, within reason. Buyers aren’t acting stupid today. They are educating themselves, studying the market, and acting when they need to.

And this is precisely why sellers who are on the market in August and priced correctly have a distinct advantage to sellers who wait until October. Ask yourself two questions?

When is the best time to sell an item? The answer is when there are fewer items on the market. When is the best time to purchase an item? This answer is when there are more items to choose from. It’s simple supply and demand.

The listings are coming, we know this for sure. It happens every year. If you’re a seller contemplating a sale, wouldn’t it make sense to beat the seller rush and put your home on the market now? Buyers are out there, and they’re motivated. Many buyers are frustrated because they can’t score a deal. They’re getting beat out by other buyers and watching home after home come off the market while they have none. They need a home, they’re watching rates go up, and yet they can’t catch a break.

Sellers can take advantage of this mismatch, but time is running out. Soon, other sellers will have the same idea and place their home on the market, and you lose your advantage. Oh, you can still sell in October-December. It’s just more fun when less sellers are competing with you.

Imagine being a high school girl waiting for a guy to ask you to prom. Wouldn’t it be nice if there were 5 girls in the class and 30 boys? You’d practically have your pick of which offer to choose. You wouldn’t settle for the 1^st offer if it wasn’t right, because you know better options are a moment away. It wouldn’t be so good for the buys though. Only 5 would get dates, and the other 25 would be waiting for a new girl to move to town.

This is what it’s like in August in the SW Florida housing market. Buyers are looking. Supply is limited in certain price ranges. Our team is having another record month in August. We need more listings. Our marketing is working. If you’re thinking of selling anytime soon, we should probably talk.

Call Brett or Sande Ellis 239-489-4042 Ext 4. Or visit www.SWFLhomevalues.com to get an instant free idea of what your home may be worth. Let us show you how we can save you thousands on your next transaction!

Ellis Team Weekend Open Houses

All Realtors are not the same. Who you work with matters. In fact, it can cost you thousands to use the wrong agent. People don’t realize this until it’s too late. Here are some tips on how to select the best real estate agent on your next transaction, and why it’s important.

Select the Best Real Estate Agent on Your Next Transaction — Voted Best Real Estate Team in SW Florida 3 Years in a Row

The Ellis Team at Keller Williams Realty was just awarded the best team in SW Florida by the News Press readers for the 3^rd straight year, so hopefully we have some good ideas on what to look for in an agent for you.

Full-Time-We believe working with a full-time agent is critical. It’s difficult enough keeping up with all the education requirements, regulatory and legal changes, and ever-changing inventory. A part-time agent just can’t keep up. You have to wonder about the agent’s commitment level to the profession when they only devote part-time to it.

Experience-There is no substitute for experience. An agent develops a reputation in the community, both by consumers and by fellow agents alike. Trust plays a big part. If other agents trust your agent, they’re more likely to accept your offer as your agent puts their reputation on the line on each deal. They are trusting that we are experienced and know how to handle our customer. If an agent gets the reputation of not being able to properly educate and counsel their customer, agents are less likely to want to take deals from them in the future. Newer agents combat this because experienced agents know newer agents may lack the skills necessary to successfully navigate a deal all the way from contract to closing. At the very least, newer agents should be in daily contact with their broker and/or mentor to assist them.

Negotiating-Every agent thinks they’re a great negotiator. Negotiating skills take lots of education, and lots of practice. It doesn’t happen overnight, and it’s not true just because you think it’s true. Every singer on American Idol believes they’re great, and some of the best episodes are watching those that believe they’re great, and clearly, they are not. It will cost you to hire an amateur that thinks they’re the next American Idol.

Marketing– If you’re selling, you want an agent that’s willing to invest their own money into your advertising. If they’re going to collect a commission from you, you want someone who’s invested along with you. Not only does marketing work, it shows commitment. If they’re not willing to spend money on your listing, it tells you their degree of confidence in selling your home. Ask to see the marketing plan and compare against other Top marketing plans out there. There is a huge difference in marketing that will become apparent to you if you interview the right people.

Track Record– Compare track records of the agents you interview. Ask to see their sales in the past year. How many listings did they sell? If they only work with buyers, they may not have the experience necessary to successfully represent a seller. There is a lot of ground-work that needs to be done, like obtaining rules and regulation, HOA docs, financials, disclosures, etc. And all this before we even begin talking about pricing strategies.

Company-Each company has its unique set of benefits. Are you looking for a boutique company, or an International powerhouse with connections all over the world? How many referrals does the company receive each month from out of town? Does the company advertise outside the area? All questions you want answers to.

In summary, buyers and sellers want someone they can trust and someone that will dedicate their time and experience to helping them. They want attention, diligence, knowledge, experience, and honest feedback. Hire an agent who is strong enough to listen to you and tell you you’re on the right track, or another track is necessary for success.

If you’re looking to list your home, please call Sande or Brett Ellis 239-489-4042 Ext 4. Our team of buyer agents can help you purchase as well. Or visit www.LeeCountyOnline.com for the best real estate website in SW Florida.

Ellis Team Weekend Open Houses

Open Sunday 1-3 PM

13994 Reflection Lakes Dr – Reflection Lakes

1462 Claret Ct – Whiskey Creek

14941 Lake Olive Dr – Parker Lakes

As real estate agents I think we tend to forget that people really don’t know how to sell their home. What seems basic to a veteran agent is not basic to all, and even many newer agents don’t know all the best tips. We decided to cover 8 seller mistakes when putting home on the market.

Don’t be present for showings. If you absolutely must be home for showings, don’t say a word. Take a walk, drive around the block, or anywhere you can to avoid conversation with the buyers. Sellers believe they know their home better than anyone; therefore, they can sell it better than anyone. Be aware of the $1,000 rule. Practically every word you speak to the buyers costs you $1,000. I’d say try it, but it’ll cost you.
Don’t photograph everything. There is no rule you must provide a photo of everything. Leave a little to the imagination. Make them want to get inside and see everything. Most bathrooms don’t need to be photographed, unless they are spectacular, stand out, and are a selling feature.
Set correct listing price and negotiate firm. You’ll get a better sales price if you set the correct list price. Overpricing drives buyers away. You’re not going to fool a buyer today, so you might as well price correctly upfront. Buyers typically don’t want to insult a seller, so they just move on to other better values. Or worse yet, they never view inside of your home because it’s not on their radar.
Select the best agent to market your home, not the least expensive. Selecting the least expensive can cost you thousands. It’s not what an agent charges that matters, it’s what ends up in your pocket at closing. All Realtors are not the same. Some agents sell homes faster and for more money. Enough to cover the difference in rate, and then some.
Make your home accessible. We live in the online age. People expect fast access, both online and in person. Some buyers are buying today and won’t come back tomorrow just to see your home. By the time your home is available and picked up, they bought something else. It just repeats with the next buyer.
Check with your condo or HOA. There are many required disclosures and documents you must pass on to buyer at contract. Failure to do so can cost you a sale. Get these documents upfront. It’s a pain, but you’re going to have to do it anyway, so don’t lose a buyer and get them now.
Disclose defects. Better yet, repair problems so next buyer doesn’t have to deal with it. Most buyers want a problem free home. They want to move in and not have to repair a bunch of things. Their time and budget is stretched enough, and having to repair other peoples’ existing issues kind of takes the fun out of home shopping. If you don’t want to do the repair, chances are you next buyer may not either.
Market your home everywhere! Newspaper, online, social media, etc. Make sure your home is target marketed to home buyers looking for what you have. Throwing a sign out there and posting on an online site won’t cut it. Everyone does that. You want to stand out.

Wish we had more room. If you’re thinking of selling, always call the Ellis Team. We’ll go over our entire list and expose your home to more people. Call Sande or Brett Ellis 239-489-4042 Ext 4 To search the MLS like a pro, visit www.LeeCountyOnline.com

Don’t forget to vote us Best Real Estate Team in SW Florida in News Press Reader Poll. www.Bestswfl.com

Ellis Team Weekend Open Houses

Open House Sunday 1-3 PM

Reflection Lakes 5 Bed 3 Bath Pool Home on Lake

Large Reflection Lakes Pool home priced to sell and ready to go

13994 Reflection Lakes Dr

Open House Sunday 1-3 PM

Bella Lago 4 Bed 3 Bath Pool Home

3 Car Garage, kirkland garage door service installed the door, Granite Counters, and more

19790 Maddelana

Open House Sunday 1-4 PM

Cape Coral Direct Access Waterfront Pool Home

Direct Access Cape Coral Waterfront Pool Home

1933 SE 36th St

In February we reported that the housing supply in Southwest Florida stood at 5.48 months. We are happy to report the Southwest Florida housing supply declines since February, down to 5.28 months. This occurred for two reasons.

Active inventory fell from 5,705 homes for sale in February down to 5,552 in late April. Closed sales in last 365 days back in February were 12,487. Today that number rose to 12,612. Both statistics helped reduce the months’ supply of inventory in SW Florida.

Sometimes sales are low because of rising prices, and sometimes they’re low simply because there isn’t enough inventory. Inventory has grown in the last few years a bit. Closed sales fell 2.7% in March from previous year. Closed sales in February were up 10.7%, and its possible closed sales in April are up too which affects that number. We won’t have official closed sales numbers for April until late May.

In almost all price ranges housing supply fell except for the $200-$250k price range, which actually grew from 3.72 months’ supply to 3.85 months’ supply.

These numbers tell us our market is balanced and healthy. Most experts agree that a balanced market is around 5.5 months supply. At 5.28 months we’re right there.

Of course, markets vary by neighborhood amenities, location, price range, and more. The chart shows you how each price range is faring right now. Obviously, it you have a $1 Million plus home, it will take longer to sell on average than lower priced homes. There just aren’t as many buyers as there are sellers. The Ellis Team just sold a $1.1 Million condo in Gulf Harbour in 122 days. It takes aggressive marketing and proper pricing to make that happen. Currently there are 6 active listings in this building and no pending sales.

We’ve had a great season so far. Our sales have doubled over last year even though the Board of Realtors membership has only increased 4.3%. I’ve spoken with a few other top agents who are also having a banner year. This tells us that experienced agents who spend money advertising and have been through up, down, and sideways markets are getting it done. Experienced agents have the knowledge to navigate their sellers though any kind of market.

Listing your home with a family friend, neighbor, or relative can cost you thousands on your sale, and might cost you a relationship as well. We don’t have the burden of trying to get the number you want or need. We can objectively investigate what the market is paying for your home. Then we target buyers online and through our networks to find that buyer. The days of sticking a sign out front or placing it in MLS and hoping someone will sell it are gone. To get Top Dollar you must go out and find the buyer.

If you’re a buyer, you want to know how prices are performing in a community, how fiscally solid the homeowners association is, and other factors that may be influencing the market. Working with a skilled, full-time, knowledgeable Realtor is key. You won’t realize how much it costs you to hire an inexperienced agent until you run into issues, and then it will be too late.

We’re keeping our eyes on interest rates in the coming weeks. If they rise it will put pressure on buyers to make a move this summer. They’ve already risen, and we believe there is room to rise much more over the next few years. Waiting to buy or sell will cost buyers and homeowners with higher rates and will put pressure on affordability.

We encourage you to check out www.LeeCountyOnline.com where you can search for all the homes on MLS. Or, you can call us at 239-489-4042. Ask for Sande or Brett Ellis if you’re thinking of selling.

Good luck and Happy House Hunting!

Ellis Team Weekend Open Houses

We’re hearing from a lot of sellers who are concerned that their home has been on the market awhile and it didn’t sell this season. They’re calling asking how we market homes and what they can do to get their home sold before their listing expires. This article includes tips on how to sell your Florida home out of season.

How to Sell Your Florida Home Out of Season — Win the Beauty Contest

We get it. Sellers who weren’t successful are frustrated. The sellers who listed and sold are happy, and the ones who listed and sat are not. Putting your home on the market is a lot like entering a beauty contest. Even though your home is beautiful, it may get skipped over by other beautiful homes that compete more favorably. The other contestants take the prize. Two weeks pass by and another bevy of beauties hit the market before you get the chance to reduce your price. Your beautiful home never really got the chance to be the new beauty on the market.

Sometimes a new beauty comes on the market and it attracts multiple offers. Before you know it, it sells for full price, maybe even more. It’s frustrating to watch other homes take the crown while yours is left standing on stage. The good news I guess is that there’s a new beauty contest upcoming, but you’ve got to make some changes, or you’ll suffer the same fate as the last contest. After awhile they’ll start asking what’s wrong with you, why are you still here?

We’d like to help you avoid this madness. Before we begin, let’s just state that we too have some homes that occasionally don’t sell. When sellers take our advice, their home sells. You have to want to be the winner. Here’s our formula to win the next beauty contest.

Hire the right Realtor. Not all Realtors are the same. They don’t advertise the same, have the same number of leads, or have the experience necessary to lead you through the process. You’ve seen very talented teams lose the big game due to coaching mistakes. Hiring the right coach can make all the difference.
Price your home correctly. If the market doesn’t respond, adjust. The market doesn’t stand still, and neither does your competition. New homes enter the market, and existing homes make price adjustments. If you list a home and never change, you may get left on stage.
Make sure your home looks as good as it can. You don’t have to remodel. Simple things can make a big difference. Talk to us and discover how certain minor changes, can make a big difference in the judge’s eyes.
Listen to your Realtor. If you did the research and hired the best Realtor, it’s crazy not to take their advice. If you’re not going to listen to your Realtor, I guess it doesn’t matter who you hire.
Listen to the market. The market speaks to you. If you’re getting lots of showing but no offers, a small price adjustment may be necessary. If you’re not getting showings at all, you either have a large adjustment to make, or something is off with the marketing. Perhaps there is a field wrong in MLS. Is your home being advertised in the paper, online, and to other Realtors? Perhaps a highly advertised open house may be necessary.
Don’t be afraid to make a change. Sometimes owners list with a friend or relative. This is dangerous because they often want to please you. They may be afraid to tell you the market has shifted, or they may miss it because of their love for you. Listing with a friend or relative can destroy your relationship. If that is your situation, give us a call. We have a way of handling this for you and getting your home sold without offending your friend.

If you have a home to sell, we’d love to help you. Simply go to www.SWFLhomevalues.com and enter your address. We’ll provide you with a free online market evaluation. If you’d like to go to the next step, we can schedule a time to meet your and view your home. Or, you can always call Sande or Brett Ellis at 239-489-4042 Ext 4. Always Call the Ellis Team! We’ll get your home Sold!

Ellis Team Weekend Open Houses

Reflection Lakes – Open Sunday 1-4 PM

13994 Reflection Lakes Dr

14016 Shimmering Lakes Ct

Colony Lakes – Open Sunday 1-3 PM

16804 Colony Lakes Blvd

The value of your home is determined by what able buyers are willing to pay for your home and what the appraiser will appraise it for. It is not determined by what your neighbor down the street is asking for their home. Today we’ll explore the dangers of pricing homes compared to neighbors listing.

Often, we go out on listing appointments and we give our opinion of value after studying the property and the comparable sales. It’s not unusual for a seller to say “But the home down the street is listed at X and my home is much nicer.” Then we hear the list of upgrades, and the routine maintenance items the seller has made, like trimming the bushes last week, new light bulbs, new AC in 2005, and new roof 10 years ago.

All these details are important for the MLS sheet, and some are important as selling features, so don’t forget to bring anything up you feel might be important. Just don’t expect extra value for routine maintenance on your home and even some upgrades don’t provide value. It may make the home stand out against another.

Some upgrades do add value. Most upgrades don’t add 100% of the cost though. I blame TV shows for painting the picture of putting $50,000 in upgrades into a home and expecting an increase of $200,000 in value. This isn’t how it works, unless you somehow bought the property for way under value.

We’re watching a few neighborhoods right now where sellers are pricing compared to their neighbors. There are no sales in the last 4 months and yet there are 5 new listings within 4 months and 1 older than 4 months. None have gone pending either. We see price reductions, but they are all still significantly over priced. A few came on the market in the last 2 weeks and they are overpriced as well.

Each seller is convinced that previous sellers have set the market. The reality is the first few sellers are like lost beacons in space, and each new seller follows their light. The problem is they’re going in the wrong direction and their buyers are in another galaxy.

As soon as a seller puts their home on the market at the correct price, it will sell, if marketed correctly. All their neighbors will tell them they priced it too cheap, because they all want a higher price. This is human nature; however, it doesn’t help anybody. Just because everyone is overpriced, and no homes are selling in your neighborhood doesn’t mean a buyer will come along and overpay.

After a while, buyers begin to ask what’s wrong with the neighborhood. All these homes are on the market and there are no sales. We’ve got a decent market here in Southwest Florida. If a home is priced correctly, there is a market.

Unlike towns where a plant closing affects the market, we have buyers. The market has changed from last year. Buyers are ready, willing, and able, but they’re cautious. They don’t want to overpay. This is a sign that our market is fully recovered, as much as it’s going to, and that prices have leveled out. Now market forces take over, like interest rates, incomes, consumer confidence, etc.

We are not in jeopardy of crashing like back in 2006. We will not see rapid price gains either. SW Florida has a balanced market dependent on market forces, and that’s an awesome thing.

When you’re putting your home on the market, you must ask yourself. Am I pricing my home at today’s value, or pricing it compared to what my neighbor down the street is asking? We’d better go find some actual sales and base it off those who have won the home selling game versus those who want a certain number, or think their home is worth a certain number because that’s what their neighbor is asking.

If you’re thinking of selling your home, call Sande or Brett Ellis 239-489-4042 Ext 4. We’ll give you the straight scoop. We’ll get you Top Dollar, and we’ll get it Sold. You’ll be moving on while your neighbors wonder if their house will ever sell. You can visit our website www.LeeCountyOnline.com to see all the homes in MLS. Call Brett and Sande and start packing!

Ellis Team Weekend Open Houses

Open House Saturday 1-4 PM

1465 Arglye Dr

Open House Saturday 1-3 PM

1281 Biltmore Dr

Open House Sunday 1-4 PM

13994 Reflection Lakes Dr

Reflection Lakes Gated Community

Open House Sunday 1-3 PM

18 NE 1th Ave Cape Coral

January 2018 sales numbers for Lee County were recently released and for the first time in a while median home prices dropped. Granted, the drop was only -.2%, however it underscores a larger picture.

If you look at the home price graph for Lee County you’ll notice most of our price gains occurred in 2016. Since December of 2016, home prices are down. We had a few months better than others in 2017. If you look at where we started 2017 at a median price of $245,000 and where we start 2018 with a media price of $244,500 you can see we lost about $500. That’s nothing to worry about one way or the other.

The takeaway from all of this is that you can’t price ahead of the market if the market isn’t moving. In a hot seller’s market, sellers could over-price today’s market and soon enough the market would catch the new price. It might take a few months, but when it does, you have a sale.

In a declining market, you want to price ahead of the market as well. You never want to get caught chasing the market down. You price lower than the market and get out, because if you price at market and don’t sell the 1^st week, you’ve missed it already.

In a horizontal market like we have now, it’s important to find the market, price it right there, and market the heck out of the property. Only then will you know if you’ve properly priced it. If the market doesn’t respond, it’s not the marketing.

People say price sells cars, and price sells homes. This is true, however we’ve seen instances where a home was priced correctly and just doesn’t sell. Adding aggressive marketing can make the sale. The absence of marketing increases the chances a home will sell below market. This is one reason For Sale By Owners sell for so much less than listed properties. They don’t have the audience a typical Realtor has, and certainly not the audience of an aggressive Realtor that markets.

Because For Sale By Owners sell for so much less, they don’t save the commission. It costs them to sell on their own.

When you’re interviewing Realtors, it’s important to note that all Realtors are not the same. Not all Realtors advertise in newspaper, yellow pages, Facebook, Google, Bing, Yahoo, online newspapers all over the world, Instagram, Google+, Zillow, Trulia, realtor.com, Homes.com, Instagram, and the list goes on.

Maximum exposure equates to a higher sales price. Imagine you had an estate auction and 10 people showed up to bid. You’d sell some stuff. Now imagine you held the same auction, and 10,000 people showed up to bid. You’d sell all or most of your stuff, and the prices would be higher on much of it. Why? Because you attracted more people to bid. Full market exposure equals maximum market price. Anything less than that does not.

And while the saying price sells homes is true, it’s only partially true. Anybody can give a property away. Only a few can sell it in record time at full market value. It pays to know what the market is doing so you know how to price it, and it pays to select the Best Realtor you can find to market it for all your home is worth.

Buyers are doing their homework. We don’t have a declining market. We have a very stable market, and that’s always a fun time to buy and sell, if you do your homework.

If you’re buying or selling, call the Ellis Team. We have the latest stats as we study the market. We also have the marketing beef, so if you need your home sold fast and for top dollar, Brett and Sande are the ones to call. 239-489-4042 Ext 4. Or visit www.LeeCountyOnline.com to find your home in paradise, or find your home’s value.

Ellis Team Weekend Open Houses

Open Saturday 1-4 PM Island Park Village

Affordable Island Park Village Villa with Garage

17655 Village Inlet Ct $120,000

Open Sunday 1-4 PM Paseo

11204 Adora Ct $529,000

Esperanza Neighborhood Paseo Gated Community

Open House Sunday 1-3 PM

16150 Bay Pointe Blvd Unit B208 $175,000

December 2017 closed sales increased 1.9% over 2016 in the Southwest Florida real estate market. However, the median sales price was down 4.6% while the average sale price was down 16.3% The slight increase in number of closings wasn’t enough to pull the total dollar volume with it, so we saw a decrease of $55 million in total volume. December Southwest Florida Dollar Volume Drops.

Is this concerning? Not really. We know that many properties were affected by the hurricane. It stalled some sales, and it’s forced some sellers to wait due to increased time repairing pool cages, screens, roofs, etc. I talked with a roofer this past weekend who said it will be 9 months before the roofing market returns to normal. His advice, if you don’t need a new roof today, wait.

Prices for roofs, pool cages, screens, etc is artificially too high due to demand. Prices will come down as the workload lessens in the future. I talked to a builder who has delayed homes because they can’t get pools done on time or within budget. These high costs will pass, but it will take time.

We feel that the housing stats are more a reflection of disruption than anything. We pulled the 7 day Market Watch report from MLS and what a difference a few weeks make. We’re back to normal. Pending sales have almost equaled new listings. This tells us that buyers have turned on. They are out there buying right now.

We also had more price decreases than new listings. This tells us that sellers are getting more realistic and are reducing prices to match where the buyers are. The price reductions are working.

Each year sellers bring properties to market in hopes of testing new highs. Prices have risen so much that buyers are indifferent to overpriced listings. Homes today must be priced correctly, or buyers will pass. In a rapidly upward sellers’ market, buyers are forced to act quickly. We weren’t seeing that a few weeks ago. We are starting to see that now, however buyers are still price conscious.

Sellers are getting restless. The calls into our office from sellers with other listing agents has increased dramatically. They are unhappy with their agent for one reason or another. We cannot list their property until their listing ends, so they’re stuck with their situation unless they work something out with their broker.

Our advice would be this. All agents are not the same. It pays to interview top agents and compare them. Compare marketing plans, pricing, communication expectations, track record, references, etc. I know it takes a little more time on the front end, however it will save you a lot of unhappy time waiting for a listing to end on the back end.

Interest rates are rising right now. Waiting in this market is not good. Buyers are here now and they’re buying. You want to be priced correctly and marketed correctly. It’s the only way to get Top Dollar for your home. You don’t want to be the last seller standing once season ends. That means you lost the home selling game and you’ll be looking at fewer buyers with higher rates in the future. The time to get this correct is right now.

If you’re thinking of selling, always call Brett or Sande Ellis at the Ellis Team at Keller Williams Realty. Our marketing is second to none, and we’ll help you get your price correct too. Call us at 239-489-4042 Ext 4 so we can get your home sold now and for Top Dollar.

To search the MLS like a pro, go to www.LeeCountyOnline.com you’ll find the all the listings updated instantly. You can even get an idea on what your home is worth for Free!

Good luck and happy home buying!

Ellis Team Weekend Open Houses

Open House Saturday 1-3 PM

1226 NE 5th Ave, Cape Coral

December Southwest Florida Dollar Volume Drops — Open House Saturday 1-3 PM

Paseo Open House Saturday 1-4 PM

Bell Tower Park Open House Saturday 1-3 PM

Rising interest rates costs buyers money when purchasing a home. It either increases their payment, or it decreases the amount of purchase to maintain the same payment. Buyers have been warned for some time that rates would go up, and now they’re listening. Buyers flock to beat 2018 interest rate increases in 2018.

If you want to see where rates are headed, one indicator we look at is oil prices. As the economy improves, countries consume more oil. As oil consumption increases, it raises the cost of oil. Simple supply and demand. As oil prices increase, it raises the cost of inflation because so many things are tied to oil. Transportation costs increase, so not only does it cost you more to fill up your car with gas, it also costs companies more to move their product.

Lumber goes up because there is more demand for building plus it costs more to cut it and move it due to oil. Food prices go up because it costs more to plow the fields, and transport groceries to warehouses and eventually the stores. Postage goes up as Fed Ex, UPS, and the USPS pay more to deliver mail and packages. Oil influences a lot of things.

Buyers Flock to Beat 2018 Interest Rate Increases

As you can see from the graph, oil futures have been increasing since June of 2017. The 10 yr treasury yield has been increasing since September 2017. Oil price and interest rates are closely tied as they feed off each other. Oil signifies inflation may rise, and inflation rises, so typically does interest rates.

Mortgages are most closely associated with the 10 Yr treasury yield. Perhaps this is because not all mortgages remain for 15 years or 30 years. The average homeowner typically sells and purchases another home before their mortgage is paid off.

Buyers Flock to Beat 2018 Interest Rate Increases

If you’re on the fence about when to purchase, the recent rise in interest rates may make you move sooner rather than waiting. Even if you own a home, it may be a good time to sell and purchase that next home.

If you sell now, you have more available buyers for your home. As rates rise, you will lose buyers to the increased costs. And, you’ll save when you buy your next home too. Not only will you qualify for more home today than when rates rise, you’ll also pay less when rates are lower.

Presumably you’ll get a higher sale now with more qualified buyers than you might with less qualified buyers later, and you’ll save money on the next mortgage. It’s a double win-win for a seller contemplating a move. Sure, home prices may still go higher, so it’s not automatic you’ll get more for your home today. We’re just saying there will be less competition from other sellers now and more demand from buyers now than when rates rise. It’s always more fun to sell when you’re holding more of the cards.

Rates have already begun to rise, so sellers aren’t holding all the cards they were 6 months ago. We are seeing more inventory, which in a way is good thing because now sellers have more options when they decide to move. Many sellers wouldn’t sell because they had no idea on where they’d go. That’s opened up just a bit, which helps.

Always work with an experienced agent who knows the market. If you’d like to search the MLS for Free like a pro, go to www.LeeCountyOnline.com It has all the listings and is updated instantly. No more wasting your time on properties that sold months ago. And you’ll see all the new listings instantly too.

Or Call Sande or Brett at 239-489-4042 Ext 4 to sell your home. We have a team of experienced agent partners who can help you buy your next home too.

Always Call the Ellis Team at Keller Williams Realty! We’re here to help!

Ellis Team Weekend Open Houses

Open House Saturday 11 AM – 1 PM

9793 Deerfoot Dr

South Pointe South Lakefront Home — Lakefront Home in South Pointe South

Open House Saturday 1-3 PM

9825 Wildginger Dr

Ellis Team Weekend Open House South Pointe South — South Pointe South Maplewood Floor Plan

Open House Saturday 1-3 PM

14381 Hickory Fairway Ct

$410,000

9071 Old Hickory Cir

$375,000

Brookshire Condo

Open Saturday 1-3 PM

13235 Whitehaven Ln #1004

$131,000

Open House Sunday 1-4 PM

16804 Colony Lakes Blvd

4 Bed, 4 Bath, 3 Car Garage Pool Home in Colony Lakes

$390,000

Open Sunday 1-4 PM

Cypress Lake Country Club Villa

14401 Patty Berg Dr #101

November SW Florida Real Estate Update

Ellis Team Weekend Open Houses

Open House Sunday 1-3 PM

Weekend Garage Sale

Saturday 8 AM-1 PM

Share this:

Like this:

Ellis Team Weekend Open Houses

Share this:

Like this:

Ellis Team Weekend Open Houses

Share this:

Like this:

Ellis Team Weekend Open Houses

Open House Sunday 1-3 PM

Open House Sunday 1-3 PM

Open House Sunday 1-4 PM

Share this:

Like this:

Ellis Team Weekend Open Houses

Whiskey Creek Open Saturday 1-3 PM

Reflection Lakes Open House Sunday 1-3 PM

South Pointe South Open Sunday 1-3 PM

Share this:

Like this:

Ellis Team Weekend Open Houses

Reflection Lakes – Open Sunday 1-4 PM

Colony Lakes – Open Sunday 1-3 PM

Share this:

Like this:

Ellis Team Weekend Open Houses

Open House Saturday 1-4 PM

Open House Saturday 1-3 PM

Open House Sunday 1-4 PM

Open House Sunday 1-3 PM

Share this:

Like this:

Ellis Team Weekend Open Houses

Open Saturday 1-4 PM Island Park Village

Open Sunday 1-4 PM Paseo

Open House Sunday 1-3 PM

Share this:

Like this:

Ellis Team Weekend Open Houses

Paseo Open House Saturday 1-4 PM

Bell Tower Park Open House Saturday 1-3 PM

Share this:

Like this:

Buyers Flock to Beat 2018 Interest Rate Increases

Ellis Team Weekend Open Houses

Share this:

Like this: